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Talk by Robert Hein

Title: "Supramolecular semi-conducting materials – from synthesis to properties and applications"
Occasion: Chemistry Lecture
Start: 31.01.2023 - 17:00
Location: Barbarastr. 7, 32/107 

About the speaker: Dr Robert Hein works at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Netherlands

Abstract of the talk: As ubiquitous constituents of Nature, ions play a crucial role in a wide range of environmental, physiological and technical applications, necessitating their selective detection. Due to their low-cost, high sensitivity and real-life applicability, electrochemical sensors have been increasingly explored in this context. In particular, synthetic supramolecular ion receptors based on reversible host-guest interactions have emerged as promising candidates for the construction of reusable electrochemical ion sensors. Nevertheless, a routine application of such systems, remains elusive, in particular for the detection of anions. Herein, recent contributions to an improved fundamental understanding of these systems as well as their proof-of-principle application in reusable, real-time flow sensors will be discussed. A particular focus will be directed at redox-active anion receptors, which can not only enable sensing in various voltammetric or redox-capacitive formats but are also powerful, electrochemically switchable ion receptors. As a result, they can not only serve as versatile platforms for the fundamental investigation of non-covalent interactions but are also promising candidates in the construction of electrochemically-driven molecular switches and machines.